Collapsible boat



Feb. 423, 1965 K. HANEL 3,170,174

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Sept. l, 1961 3 Sheets-Shea?I 1 11. nii, b Ir Attorney Feb. 23, 1965 K. HANEL 3,170,174

' COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Sept. 1. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fles.

l N VEN TUR KLAUS HANEL.

Attorney Feb. 23, 1965 K. HANEL coLLAPsIBLE BoAT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. l. 1961 l l l INVENTOR f KLAUS HANEI.

` Vthe boat iioor.

` porting unit.

16 Claims. (cl. 9 2) The invention concerns anV inilatable boat having lateral `side buoyancy tubes, a transom for mounting a motor thereon, stern tins and possibly a mounting tor a set of sails.

The object of this invention is to provide an inliatable boat with bracing and mounting components suitable for rapid assembly, iCollapsing to pack size should be readily effected; It is important, moreover, that the boat has great durability, so that the skin of the boat should not be stretched excessively.. Furthermore it isv important that the boat'can be adapted readily and rapidly tothe intended use, e.g. -ior rowing, motoror sailing. Aiurther objectofthe invention ris to impart greater United States Patent() M stability and a good cornering characteristic evenwhen i the water is choppy. f,

Inflatable boats with lateral buoyancy tubes land stern fins are known. Vln one of these known lembodiments licor boardsare inserted inthe boat andbraced. The disadvantagey of this design is that the sltin ofthe boat ts against the oor'boards only by adhesive friction and longitudinal play is still possible. v

In another known embodiment a grating is placed on The disadvantage ofthis embodiment is that vboats are notstable and include theinherentdisadvantagesl of inflatable boats, i.e. when waves are high the boat llexes thus increasing the risk of capsi'zing.

lt is an object of the invention'to avoid these kdisadvantages and to associate with the inflatable boat the advantages of a rigid boat, without losing the benelits oi rapid. assembly, and dismantling and foldingV the collapsedboat to a small size. ,Y

rlfhe solution of the problem accordingto the invention consists in that the collapsible parts `partly have reinforcing and fixing plates cementedtheretm which tro-V gether with inserted detachable reinforcing and fixing plates and their bracing. iorrn the inilatable boat.v

This embotl'ment isbased on the idea of inserting in l the iniatable boat only removable solidcornponents.l ln

againstthe inserted detachable parts by adhesive ricl These detachably inserted parts are necessary to tion. Y permit easy collapsingv tosmall size.v

It is most important ytoV form the boat floor or the 'parts of the boat lying yin the water so as to be rigid.

A convenient embodiment consistsin that thebracing of the bottom is effected by means of individual door boards which are rigidly connected with the' skin of the `floor by cementing in spaced relationship from fone another. Other intermediate boards iill thelspace between these tloor boards ledges detachably connected with 'the tloor boards and intermediate boardsform a static sup- The floor skin surfacesl which arevrigidly cemented to the oor boards are no longer able to become extendedy or stretch. Changes in length are possible onlyinthe spacing'betweenrthe floor boards cemented in position.`

by non- Y J A preferred embodiment consists in that a front and rear oor board are cemented in position and arranged between them two intermediate boards hingedly connected with `one another'and engaging 'beneath two holding members fixed on the hoor boards.V

The size of the oor boards cemented in position-will tbe selected so as to allow the boat to be collapsed .to form Y a portable size. The intermediate boards, which are ar' ticulatedV Eby means of a rubber band are thus safe .from being lost andalso permit a more rapid assembly.V

it is expedient for two ledges extending parallel in the p proximity fof the buoyancy tubes,` the floor. boards and intermediate boards are connected by b-olts which are fixed in the floor boards andtheintermediate boards and project through the ledges andjat the top lpress the ledgesin position by means of'nuts v ln this embodiment bolts may be equidistantly arranged and on inserting the intermediate boards ledges are placed in position, the lbolts penetrating the bores inthe ledges. The ledges are thenpressed againstvtheir base, i.e. against the door boards vand intermediate boardslby means of nuts.' VBy .this means aVA static loa'dable unit is obtained.` It is essential that the 4ledges are adapted to be laterally fitted so that a free usable space is available in the centre, which, contrary to known embodiments is free from fastening devices. Y

When using the new embodiment in inflatable boatsv board alsojcarries thersupport for the transom vthere is ensu'redja particularly lgood andr'eliablepower transmission whenan outboard motor is mounted on the transom of the' boat.

"Iosimplify assembly, it is 'advantageous furthe skin of theA boatwrapped around the stern-iin andcernented to the v tlxedto the transom `by means of` a detachableconnection,

such' as eyelets.

The assembly of' the boatV becomes very simple by Y means of this arrangement. lt is no longer necessary to insert the transom under tension, but itis simply inserted ,Y loosely and the skin ofthe boat forming the rear closure is led upwards from the stern iin and secured lin any manner on thetransom. The transomthen transmits its load laterally to the buoyancy tubes and at the bottom to the oor board, The transmission to the buoyancy tubes is i eifectedf-by means of bulges which are cemented o n the 'buoyancy tubes and supported on both sides against the It is also possible for the ledges to have devices known intermediate Vboards a good power transmission from the Patentedfeb. 23, 196.5

wind pressure against the floor of the boat is thereby ensured.

Further possibilities consist in that in front `in the bow a floor board is cemented in position, the space between the floor board next cemented in position also being bridged by intermediate insertable boards. Ledges then connect all these components. The same measures which are used for connecting the front and rear floor board can also 'be used at other points of the boat. Such a measure is possible in the same way when bracing the bow.

The floor and intermediate boards may be of varied construction. A favorable structural embodiment is that the pivotal axis of rotation of the flexibly connected intermediate boards filling the space between the floor boards is situated at right angles to the direction of travel.

This embodiment leads to a fiat fioor of the boat. A boat constructed in this manner will have a low drag coefficient.

An alternative embodiment is that the axis of rotation of the articulated connected intermediate boards filling the spaces between the fioor boards lies parallel to the direction of travel. In this embodiment it is important that the floor boards extending parallel to the buoyancy tubes and cemented beneath these to the skin of the boat are supported by the intermediate boards adapted to fill the spaces, the ledges extending parallel to one another at right angles to the direction of travel are curved downwardly like spars and thereby form one or more keels.

This embodiment forms one keel underneath on the inflatable boat and the ledges arranged at right angles to the direction of travel and connecting the intermediate and floor board are of rib-like construction. Great stability is thereby imparted to the boat and is rendered suitable particularly for a high sail plan.

With regard to the floor boards the floor boards may have bevelled edges along their mutually parallel edges against which the intermediate boards are supported. The intermediate boards are thereby supported by the floor boards both longitudinally and at right angles relative to the direction of travel, so that the ledges ensure that a good stability is obtained and course holding effected by the suitably constructed shape of the floor and boards.

To obtain a still smallersize of vpack it is expedient for the long tioor boards to be flexibly interconnected, after assembly the hinges being locked by catches.

In a similar way it is possible for hinges to be formed in the fioor boards by the fact that the boards are provided at such a distance from one another that it is pos` sible for an axis of rotation to be formed. The hinge is then formed by the skin of the fioor. It is possible for the distance to be sodimensioned that a transverse or longitudinal ledge engages in this distance so that sufficient stability is provided and the skin of the floor also supported at this point.

The fioor boards which are now non-positively connected with the skin of the floor result in further advantages.

For the sail fitting it is expedient for the step to be provided on a door board cemented to the fabric and at the same time for a lee board or center board penetrating the skin of the boat to be provided.

Power transmission is particularly favorable thereby. The lee board box ensures that the boat has lateral resistance due to the lee board penetrating through the skin of the boat into the water. Hitherto it was impossible to use such lee board boxes or lee boards owing to sealing problems.

An alternative possibility to secure the ledges consist in 'that the ledges locating the floor boards have hooks on the side which engage in eyelets arranged on the floor boards.

A further method of fixing is that the fioor boards have aligned rubber profiles which permit the ledges to be inserted.

With reference to the width of the fioor boards it is i expedient to maintain a distance between the floor boards and the lateral supporting tubes, so that these form lateral depending keels.

The travelling properties are improved by the fact that the weight of the buoyancy tubes is not absorbed by the floor boards and that lateral runnerspor keels are formed.

It is possible for the buoyancy tubes to have bracing or fastening boards.

A further embodiment also provides for the fixing boards to form a part of the buoyancy tubes and support fixing devices.

A further embodiment is that a fixing board forming the defining surface of the buoyancy tubes is adapted to extend concavely or rectilinearly.

It is possible, moreover, .that two fixing boards arranged at an angle to one another to form the cross-section of the buoyancy tubes which has a round cross-section per se so as to be streamlined.

Another embodiment involves the transom being fixed on the longitudinally extending fixing boards.

These fixing boards are not visible from the outside and alter the shape of the buoyancy tubes in accordance with improving the travelling properties. By means of longitudinally extending fixing boards, which abut against the transom, there is obtained a transmission of the motor power from the transom to the whole boat. This ensures greater durability and stability of the boat. By varying the cross-sectional shape of the buoyancy tubes, the tendency to tilt is reduced. The pear-shape increases the resistance to tilting the more the boat keels over to turn, as the surface about -which the boat would have to tilt, is increased.

Additionally Ito the outside boards cemented to the skin of the boat it is possible for bracing boards to be arranged in the buoyancy tubes.

These boards are invisible and brace the buoyancy tubes in the desired loading directions and moreover permit fixing eyelets, hooks and so forth to be fitted thereon.

The internally disposed bracing boards too can alter the cross-sectional shape of the buoyancy tubes. One embodiment consists in that the bracing boards are arranged only in a portion of the buoyancy tubes and thereby caused to form keels or runners.

In these embodiments there occurs a deformation of the circular cross-section of the buoyancy tubes, so that without substantial effort for sail fittings an effective keel or lee board is provided.

Moreover it is conceivable that the outside fixing boards are supported by struts or bracing boards arranged in the buoyancy tubes.

This measure makes it possible to attribute static properties to the boat which otherwise are provided only in a rigid boat.

It is thus important that the bracing and fixing boards are arranged in pieces, or connected by hinges which permit collapsing to pack size.

Such hinges may consist of rubber band which therefore requires .no maintenance and is resistant to corrosion.

It is also essential that floor components such as lee boards, stern plates, transom, seats, hooks, eyelets and so forth are detachably provided on the fixing or bracing board.

Hitherto it was possible for parts to be fixed to the tubes only in a limited manner. Now is is possible to provide connecting surfaces at any part of the boat.

Depending upon the required travelling properties it is possible for the fixing or bracing boards to urge the buoyancy tubes to form a stable hull section.

In other embodiments there may be obtained a displacement of the center of gravity.

The invention will be described further, by way of eX- ample, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a section along line I-I of FIG. 3 showing FIG. 4 shows schematically the Vrear view of FIG. 3 in section with `the vtransom removed;

FIG. 5 is another embodiment inl a'view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a plan view of oor and intermediate boards the separating `gapsthereof disposed in the direction of travel; .1

FIG. 6 corresponds to a side elevation of FIG.A 5 in section without transom;

FIG. 7 shows schematically an alternative method of,

connecting theledges with the floor boards;

FIG. 8 shows schematically how the ledge is latched into eyelets and the eyelet in side elevation;

FIG. 9 shows schematically the forming of lateral keels by having `the buoyancy tubes disposed downwardly;

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional shape of the buoyancy tubes with xingrboards; i y,

FIG. l1 shows an alternative cross-sectional shape to FIG. 10'; i

FIG. l2 shows an alternative cross-sectional shape to FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 shows an alternative cross-sectionalshape to FIG. l;

FIG.` 14 shows the use of bracing boards in the buoyancy tubes;

FIG. 15 shows the `use of a cross-sectional shape ofk FIG. i3 with a possibility of tting a lee board box or htting lee boards outside on the buoyancytube; and

- FIG. 16 shows the use of` a cross-sectional shapeac.- kcording to FIG. 1l.

FIG. 1 shows buoyancy tubes 1 which havestern'iins Z. Floor boardse, 7 are rigidly cemented to the oor skin 3 in the shaded regions 4, andare therefore undetachable. The intermediateY boards 8, 9 are ilexiblyinterconnected bymeans of a rubber band 10. Supporting members 11, 12, which are rigidly connected with the floor boards 6, 7, permit rapidassem'bly when by moving inthe direction of the arrow 11i the intermediate boards .8, 9 iiushly fill the space between tli'e floor boards and are removable. The ledges 14,15vare' subsequently tted. Bolts 16, `17 fixed in the floor and intermediate boards project through the ledges 14, 15. Nuts 1S fittedthereon then press the ledges 14,15 against the base i.e. against lthe ,tloor boards 6, 7 and intermediate'boards 8, 9. lBy-.this means there is obtained a statically loadable unit.

An angle bracket 19 is rigidly mounted on the rear floor board 7. A transom Ztiis supported ori-the angle .bracket 19 when pushed in the `direction ofthe arrow 21, which at the same time indicates the direction of travel. K The buoyancy tubes have bulges (not shown in the drawings) at the points 2,2, 23 so that the transom can transmit the drive of an outboard motor to the buoyancy tubes and the floor boards.l The skin 3 of the floor is passed over the stern iin VZ as cover 25 and rigidly cemented to the rear V floor board 7 which also forms the stern tins. The rear transom wall 24 now formed by the loosely suspended p Y tion'which' is like the axis of rotation 27 of thefinter` mediatev boards. The stern portion with transom Ztis constructed asin FIGS. 1 to 4. Y

In FIGS.` 7 to 9 the same numerals denote the same parts. The ledges 14 herein are provided with hook-s 33, which engage in bores 34 of the angle members 35 and, when straightening, as shown inFIGS. 7, 8, brace the floor boards 6 with one another. The drawing herein is not-to scale. v

' FIG. 9 shows that the floor boards 6 are so spaced 36 from` the buoyancy tubes v1 that the latter sink by this distance thereby forming lateral runners or keels which increase the safety when the inflatable boat turns.

In FIGS. 10 to 16 the buoyancy tubes are formed by part sections Sd-which are cemented to fastening boards 39. The'fastening boards which may be pressed wood and be proiled, or be'straight plywood panels, impart the diiierent travelling properties to the boat. In FIG.'l l5 the capsizing of an inflatable boat about aV capsizing edge dllwith such fastening boards is rendered ditiicult, as ,the distance 41, which represents the tilting surface, is greater than the distance 52 of the normal round prole of the buoyancytubes. In addition there may be provided a lee board box 42 or a `center board casing having a lee board sov or center Vboardtherein (not shown). '1305x453 is mountedV on the floor board 6 rigidly cemented to the skin 3 of the boat. The passage aperture 43 for the lere board in the lee `board box is hence also sealed off. In the buoyancy tube there may be arranged bracing boards 4d orbracing struts 4S, whichhold part sections 3S of the buoyancy tube 1',

in order toensure a better guidance tothe boat. In FIG.v Y

14 (not to scale) there' is shownthe .development of a keel by using bracing boards 44, which additionally supvport the floor boards 6 by means .of bracing struts 145.

The oorboards in turn are also cemented to the skin v3 of the boat. Of course the distancebetween the buoyancy tubes 1 is much greater than stated in'FIG. 14. The

.` bracing strutsv may also be used for fixing eyeletsdb for The same numerals in FIGS. 5 and 6 denote the same parts. Only the axis of rotation or hinge axis of the intermediate boards 8, 9 differ. While in FIGS. 1.to'4

the axis of rotation 27 is disposed transversely or at rightl angles to the direction of travel 21, this axis of rotation herein is arranged parallel to the direction of travel or theV arrow 21. The ledges 28, 29 are of rib like construcposition. The Hoor boards 6, 7 of FIGS. 5 and 6 may form an integral whole or they may have au axis of rotasails or` hooks 47 for hooking seats into position.

- FIG; v16 vshows that a'transom 43 with support-S149 yis fixed eg. by hooking in position on the fastening boards 39. The mounting forthe motor Yis indicated schematically by means ofthe traverses 50. The motor power isnow transmitted by the fastening, bracing and iloor boards forming a static unit, to the whole boat. Additional holders 51 e.g. for itting row locks may also be provided. A step for a mast may be provided on one of the `iloorboards which-is cemented to the skin and chain plates for the standing rigging can be provided along the` edges of the loor.

The invention is adapted to be applied to all possibilities `wherein boards or rigid and loadable parts are rigidly connected by cementing to parts of the skin of the boat which impart a greater loading capacity and stability to the boat without impairng its collapsibility.

What I claim is: Y 1. An inflatable collapsible boat comprising flexible sheet material defining a pair of spaced buoyant tubes connected at one end to form the bow of the boat and spaced at the other end to form the stern of the boat, there being iiexiblematerial between saidspacedtubes defining the bottom of the boat, a pair of rigidoor boards positioned side by side and undetachably secured' to said flexible bottom, said boards having adjacent edges in spaced relation, a pair 'of pivotally connected removable rearmost undetachable oorboard extending aft of said d transom being covered with said flexible sheet material and defining stern tins.

2. An inflatable collapsible boat as claimed in claim 1, and further comprisingy a pair of longitudinally extending ledges adjacent said tubes secured to said removable and undetachable floor boards to form a rigid load supporting unit with the same.

3. An inflatable collapsible boat as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising supporting members fixed on the upper surfaces of said undetachable oor boards along the spaced edges thereof to retain said removable floor boards in position.

4. An inllatable collapsible boat as claimed in claim 1, with said llexible sheet material extending from said stern lins being detachably connected to said transom.

5. An inliatable collapsible boat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal axis of said removable lloor boards is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the boat.

6. An inflatable collapsible boat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal axis of said removable oor boards is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boat.

7. An inatable collapsible boat comprising flexible sheet material defining a pair of spaced buoyant tubes connected at one end to form the bow of the boat and spaced at the other end to form the stern of the boat, there being flexible material between said spaced tubes defining the bottom of the boat, a pair of rigid iioor boards undetachably secured to said flexible bottom and extending parallel to said buoyant tubes, said rigid lloor boards being transversely spaced with respect to their adjacent edges, a plurality of transversely extending ledges secured to said undetachable lloor boards, said ledges being bent downwardly so as to form a keel for said boat, a pair of removable lloor boards between said spaced tloor boards, said last-named pair of boards being pivotally connected along edges thereof which are substantially parallel to the said spaced edges, a transom extending upwardly from the rearmost of said undetachable oor boards between said tubes and spaced inwardly of the stern end of said rearmost undetachable iioor board for mounting a motor on the boat, the portion of said rearmost undetachable lioor board extending aft of said transom being covered with said llexible sheet material and del'ining stern fins.

8. An inflatable collapsible boat as claimed in claim 7, with the ends of said removable oor boards being tapered.

9. An inflatable boat having a flexible outer skin bottom and sides of laterally spaced inliatable buoyant longitudinally extending tubes, said skin bottom between said tubes having rigid bottom pieces positioned thereon, certain of said rigid bottom pieces having their adjacent edges spaced apart and nseparably attached to the skin bottom, others of said rigid bottom pieces being flexibly hinged together along an edge substantially parallel to said spaced apart edges and inserted under compression into the space between said spaced apart edges whereby said skin bottom between said edges is held under tension ina stretched condition.

10. An inflatable boat as claimed in claim 9, in which said certain of said rigid bottom pieces comprise a front rigid bottom piece and a rear rigid bottom piece, and in which said iexible hinged pieces engage beneath holding members ixed on said front and rear pieces.

11. An inflatable boat as claimed in claim 9, in which said certain of said rigid bottom pieces comprise a front rigid bottom piece and a rear rigid bottom piece, and

rin which the rear end of said rear bottom piece terminates in a stern 1in.

12. An inflatable boat as claimed in claim 11, in which said rear bottom piece has a transom secured to the upper face thereof adjacent the stern 1in for mounting a motor thereon.

13. An inflatable boat as claimed in claim 12, in which said certain of said rigid bottom pieces comprise spaced longitudinally extending side pieces. v

14. An iniiatable boat as claimed in claim 13, in which each of said spaced longitudinally extending side pieces terminate rearwardly in a stern lin.

15. An inllatable boat as claimed in claim 14, in which said spaced longitudinally extending side pieces have an upwardly extending transom detachably secured thereto at their rear ends adjacent said stern tins.

16. An intlatable boat as claimed in claim 13, in which said rigid bottom pieces converge downwardly toward each other and meeting at an apex running longitudinally of the boat and forming a keel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,794,895 3/31 Hall 114-665 X 2,478,042 8/49 Elling 9 3 2,588,084 3/52 Bashtield 9-2 X 2,698,447 1/55 Potts 9-2.1

2,949,616 8/60 Desanges 92.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,103,804 4/56 France.

OTHER lREFERENCES Popular Science, page 58, September 1937. FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner. 

1. AN INFLATABLE COLLAPSIBLE BOAT COMPRISING FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL DEFINING A PAIR OF SPACED BUOYANT TUBES CONNECTED AT ONE END TO FORM THE BOW OF THE BOAT AND SPACED AT THE OTHER END TO FORM THE STERN OF THE BOAT, THERE BEING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID SPACED TUBES DEFINING THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT, A PAIR OF RIGID FLOOR BOARDS POSITIONED SIDE BY SIDE AND UNDETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID FLEXIBLE BOTTOM, SAID BOARDS HAVING ADJACENT EDGES IN SPACED RELATION, A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED REMOVABLE FLOOR BOARDS BETWEEN SAID SPACED FLOOR BOARDS THE EDGES OF SAID PIVOTALLY CONNECTED BOARDS OPPOSITE SAID PIVOTALLY CONNECTED EDGES CONTACTING THE SPACED EDGES OF THE UN- 